Center for Addiction

Changes in Cigarette Use and Nicotine Dependence in the United States: Evidence from the 2001-2002 Wave of the National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcoholism and Related Conditions.

Am J Public Health. 2008 Nov 13;

Authors: Goodwin RD, Keyes KM, Hasin DS

Objectives. We examined the roles of gender and poverty cigarette use and nicotine dependence among adults in the United States. Methods. Our data was drawn from participants in the 2001-2002 National Epidemiological Survey of Alcoholism and Related Conditions, a nationally representative sample of US adults 18 years and older. Results. The overall rate of cigarette use declined between 1964 and 2002. Nicotine dependence does not appear to have declined overall, and there is evidence that nicotine dependence has increased among women in recent cohorts. The odds of nicotine dependence among cigarette users appear to have increased significantly in recent cohorts. Conclusions. Despite recent declines in cigarette use, the prevalence of nicotine dependence has increased among some groups and has remained steady overall, which may be hampering public health initiatives to reduce cigarette use. Efforts to study or curb cigarette use should therefore take nicotine dependence into account.

PMID: 19008515 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Legal barriers to alcohol screening in emergency departments and trauma centers.

Alcohol Res Health. 2004-2005;28(2):73-9

Authors: Chezem L

PMID: 19006994 [PubMed - in process]

Brief interventions for alcohol problems: factors that facilitate implementation.

Alcohol Res Health. 2004-2005;28(1):44-50

Authors: Moyer A, Finney JW

Brief interventions are gaining favor as a means of addressing the problems associated with hazardous and harmful drinking. Brief interventions commonly target people whose levels or patterns of use are not diagnosable as alcohol abuse or dependence. These interventions usually are delivered by professionals who do not specialize in alcoholism treatment, and they include treatment elements designed to encourage people to alter their alcohol use without creating resistance. As evidence mounts regarding the efficacy of these interventions, attention has turned to implementing them successfully. New modes of delivery, such as via computers, the Internet, and interactive multimedia presentations, may help to surmount some of the challenges of wide dissemination, such as strains on expertise, time, and resources.

PMID: 19006991 [PubMed - in process]

Biomarkers for alcohol use and abuse--a summary.

Alcohol Res Health. 2004-2005;28(1):30-7

Authors: Peterson K

Clinicians can use several biochemical measurements to objectively assess patients' current or past alcohol use. However, none of these currently available biomarkers-including measures of various liver enzymes and blood volume--are ideal. Several more experimental markers hold promise for measuring acute alcohol consumption and relapse. These include certain alcohol byproducts, such as acetaldehyde, ethyl glucuronide (EtG), and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), as well as two measures of sialic acid, a carbohydrate that appears to be altered in alcoholics. Some progress has been made in finding markers that predict people's genetic predisposition to alcoholism, such as genetic differences in several neurotransmitters, including beta-endorphin and gamma-aminobutryic acid (GABA).

PMID: 19006989 [PubMed - in process]

[The demographic conditions of the moderately urbanized territory of the Western Siberia]

Probl Sotsialnoi Gig Zdravookhranenniiai Istor Med. 2008 Jul-Aug;(4):12-5

Authors:

The investigation of the structure of the premature mortality of the population living on the moderately urbanized territory of the Western Siberia was carried out to determine the major trends in disease prevention and life-span. In Tomsk oblast the mortality continues to remain on higher levels first of all because of higher mortality of population due to accidents, traumatism and intoxications. The impact on the mortality of such factors as alcoholism, tobacco smoking, traffic accidents, violent acts has been increased. The lower indicator of the population life expectancy in Tomsk oblast is an evidence of adverse demographic situation. As estimated, in Tomsk oblast in 2004 this indicator came to 64.8 years (66.8years in the Russian Federation). The growth of absolute and relative numbers of non-able-bodied population leads to increase of demographic burden on the able-bodied population. Recently, this burden increased comparatively not much, yet the children burden decreased and the elderly population increased as well.

PMID: 19006826 [PubMed - in process]

Effects of smoking cues on caffeine urges in heavy smokers and caffeine consumers with and without schizophrenia.

Schizophr Res. 2008 Nov 8;

Authors: Adolfo AB, Ahnallen CG, Tidey JW

Cigarette smoking and caffeine use are established and problematic drug-use behaviors in people with schizophrenia. Associative links between drugs of abuse may occur but the relationship between caffeine use and cigarette smoking has received little attention in schizophrenia. In this cross-cue reactivity laboratory study, we examined the effects of neutral and smoking cues on craving for caffeinated beverages in participants with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder (SS; n=15) and non-psychiatric controls (CS; n=18) all of whom were heavy smokers and daily caffeine users. Participants were tested under non-abstinent and 5-hour abstinent conditions. SS tended to report greater daily levels of caffeine use than CS. Although this difference was not significant, that may be due to the small sample sizes as the size of this effect was large. Daily caffeine intake was significantly correlated with daily smoking rate in SS but not CS. A significant interaction between group and cue type after controlling for caffeine intake indicated that exposure to smoking cues increased urge for caffeinated beverages in SS but not CS. These results indicate support for associative connections between cigarette smoking cues and craving for caffeine in smokers with schizophrenia.

PMID: 19006656 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Chronic Pulmonary Histoplasmosis Diagnosed in a Nonimmunosuppressed Patient 10 Years After Returning From an Endemic Area.

Arch Bronconeumol. 2008 Oct;44(10):567-570

Authors: García-Marrón M, García-García JM, Pajín-Collada M, Alvarez-Navascués F, Martínez-Muñiz MA, Sánchez-Antuña AA

We report the case of a Spanish nonimmunosuppressed patient who was a chronic alcoholic and who developed chronic cavitary pulmonary histoplasmosis. He had been living in Venezuela until 10 years ago. The diagnosis was established when Histoplasma capsulatum was cultured from bronchoscopy samples. The patient was treated with itraconazole and progressed favorably until cure. This case suggests that histoplasmosis can reactivate years after exposure, even when significant immunodeficiency is not present. In the absence of another immunosuppressive factor, alcoholism may have played a role in the development of the condition.

PMID: 19006637 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of the Cardiovascular Effects Following the Coadministration of Cocaine and Ethanol.

Drug Metab Dispos. 2008 Nov 12;

Authors: Laizure SC, Parker RB

One of the most common drug dependencies occurring with alcoholism is cocaine dependence. This combination is particularly worrisome because of the increased risk of cardiovascular events associated with their co-abuse. Though it's well known that ethanol increases the cardiovascular effects of cocaine by inhibiting cocaine clearance and the formation of cocaethylene, it has also been postulated that ethanol enhances cocaine's cardiovascular effects independent of the two latter mechanisms. This study investigated the cardiovascular pharmacodynamics of the cocaine-ethanol interaction to determine if ethanol directly enhanced the cardiovascular effects of cocaine. Dogs (n=6) were administered 3mg/kg of IV cocaine alone and in combination with 1g/kg of IV ethanol on separate study days. Blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG were monitored continuously and blood samples collected periodically after drug administration. The concentration-time data were fitted to a two-compartment model, and the concentration-effect data fitted to a simple Emax model using WinNonlin. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters were compared between the two treatment phases by a paired t-test. The administration of ethanol before cocaine resulted in a decrease in cocaine clearance, but there were no differences in any of the other pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic parameter values between the cocaine alone and cocaine+ethanol phases. As has been demonstrated in previous animal and human studies, the clearance of cocaine was decreased by prior administration of ethanol. However, ethanol did not change the concentration-effect relationship of the cardiovascular response to cocaine administration. It is concluded from this study that ethanol does not directly enhance the cardiovascular effects of cocaine.

PMID: 19005030 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Alcohol Education Inventory-Revised: What every mental health professional should know about alcohol.

J Subst Abuse Treat. 2008 Nov 11;

Authors: Spirito A,

In 1995, Miller and C'de Baca created a 50-item measure, the Alcohol Education Inventory (AEI), to assess mental health professionals' basic knowledge of alcohol and alcohol problems. The purpose of this study was to update the AEI based on advances in the field since its publication. The AEI-Revised (AEI-R) consists of 13 of the original AEI items, 30 items that were revised and updated, and 7 new items. The AEI-R was administered to 90 mental health trainees with percentage correct ranging from 60% (psychology postdoctoral fellows) to 70% (psychiatry residents). The percent correct is very similar to that found on the original AEI (64%-70%). Survey results suggest that alcohol-related knowledge by mental health professionals in general training is less than adequate. The AEI-R may be useful as a tool to assess basic knowledge of alcohol among mental health professionals.

PMID: 19004594 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Gamma hydroxybutyrate: an ethnographic study of recreational use and abuse.

J Psychoactive Drugs. 2008 Sep;40(3):245-53

Authors: Lee SJ, Levounis P

Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a psychoactive substance with complex neurophysiological activity and significant potential for abuse, addiction, and dangerous toxicity. In this study, a semistructured interview was administered to 17 subjects to investigate GHB use, including: manner of use; setting; positive and negative consequences; other drug history; and sexual practices. Respondents were overwhelmingly male, but otherwise had a broad demographic background. Settings varied from nightclubs to private use at home. There was significant variability in the drug obtained, which subjects found problematic because of the narrow therapeutic window and ease of accidental overdose. Common positive experiences included increased sexual desire, decreased sexual inhibitions, and decreased anxiety. Common negative consequences included oversedation, loss of consciousness, motor incoordination, and mental confusion. Nine subjects reported that they would use GHB again, some despite severe negative consequences. Although most subjects reported negative experiences, only three felt their use was problematic, and none sought treatment for GHB abuse or addiction. Subjects were highly drug-experienced, most commonly using MDMA, ketamine, cocaine, alcohol, and methamphetamine. Some reported that GHB could cause poor decision making in sexual situations. This effect has significant ramifications for issues such as date rape and control of sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV.

PMID: 19004416 [PubMed - in process]

Nystagmus using video-oculography in psychiatric patients.

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2008 Nov 11;

Authors: Kiyomizu K, Matsuda K, Torihara K, Nakayama M, Komaki S, Tono T, Ishida Y, Yoshida K, Kimitsuki T

To evaluate whether nystagmus has clinical significance in psychiatric patients who have functional and/or organic brain dysfunction. We performed gaze, positional and positioning nystagmus tests on 227 patients with psychiatric diseases (144 men, 83 women, with an average age +/- SD of 62.5 +/- 14.0 years) in order to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of nystagmus. Patients were classified according to the underlying disease. Normal control subjects were 107 subjects (26 men, 81 women, with an average age +/- SD of 35.6 +/- 10.0 years). Nystagmus was observed in 56 (24.7%) of 227 cases. Nystagmus was seen in 16 (59.3%) of 27 cases of alcoholism, 14 (22.2%) of 63 cases of organic psychiatric disorders, 25 (20.2%) of 124 cases of schizophrenia, 1 (20.0%) of 5 cases of excited mental retardation, 0 (0.0%) of 7 cases of mood disorders, 0 (0.0%) of 1 case of anxiety disorders and 1 (0.9%) of 107 subjects of normal control. There was a significant difference between psychiatric diseases and normal control. These results indicate that nystagmus may also be a very important clinical finding not only in patients with neurological and neuro-otological diseases, but also in patients with psychiatric diseases.

PMID: 19002480 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Cholestasis and metabolic bone disease - a clinical review.

Wien Med Wochenschr. 2008 Oct;158(19-20):553-557

Authors: Gasser RW

Metabolic bone disease, mainly osteopenia/osteoporosis and occasionally osteomalacia, is a major extrahepatic manifestation of chronic cholestatic liver disease (synonym: hepatic osteodystrophy). Reduced bone mineral density is found in up to 60% and atraumatic fractures in about 20% of patients with chronic liver disease. Hepatic osteodystrophy is characterized by reduced formation and increased resorption of bone; major risk factors are chronic cholestasis and advanced cirrhosis. Pathogenetic mechanisms include genetic factors, abnormalities of calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K and bilirubin metabolism, IGF-1 deficiency, the RANKL/OPG-system, hypogonadism, drugs harmful to bone, lifestyle factors (smoking, alcoholism, immobility), malnutrition and low body mass index. Screening for osteopenia should be performed and reversible risk factors must be corrected. At present, bisphosphonates are the predominantly used specific drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis in chronic liver disease. After orthotopic liver transplantation bone mineral density improves in long-term follow-up. Studies are needed for fracture prevention in chronic liver disease.

PMID: 18998071 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Maharaj k ticku, 1948-2007.

Neuropsychopharmacology. 2008 Dec;33(13):3247

Authors: Noronha A, Harris RA

PMID: 18997797 [PubMed - in process]

The distribution of gamma-hydroxybutyrate-induced Fos expression in rat brain: Comparison with baclofen.

Neuroscience. 2008 Oct 17;

Authors: van Nieuwenhuijzen PS, McGregor IS, Hunt GE

gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a euphoric, prosocial and sleep inducing drug that binds with high affinity to its own GHB receptor site and also more weakly to GABA(B) receptors. GHB is efficacious in the treatment of narcolepsy and alcoholism, but heavy use can lead to dependence and withdrawal. Many effects of GHB (sedation, hypothermia, catalepsy) are mimicked by GABA(B) receptor agonists (e.g. baclofen). However other effects (euphoric and prosocial effects and a therapeutic effect in narcolepsy) are not. The present study used Fos immunohistochemistry to assess the neural activation produced in rat brain by medium to high doses of GHB (250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) and a high dose of baclofen (10 mg/kg) that produced similar sedation to 500 mg/kg GHB. Results showed many common regions of activation with these two drugs including the supraoptic, paraventricular, median preoptic and ventral premammillary nuclei of the hypothalamus, the central nucleus of the amygdala, Edinger-Westphal nucleus, lateral parabrachial nucleus, locus coeruleus, and nucleus of the solitary tract. GHB (500 mg/kg), but not baclofen (10 mg/kg), induced significant Fos expression in the median raphe nucleus and lateral habenula, while a higher dose of GHB (1000 mg/kg) induced additional Fos expression in the islands of Calleja, dentate gyrus (polymorphic layer) and arcuate nucleus, and in various regions implicated in rapid and non-rapid eye movement sleep (laterodorsal tegmental nucleus, tuberomammillary nucleus and the ventrolateral and anterodorsal preoptic nuclei). Surprisingly, Fos immunoreactivity was not observed with either GHB or baclofen in reward-relevant regions such as the nucleus accumbens, striatum and ventral tegmental area. Overall these results indicate a distinctive signature of brain activation with GHB that may be only partly due to GABA(B) receptor effects. This confirms a unique neuropharmacological profile for GHB and indicates key neural substrates that may underlie its characteristic influence on sleep, body temperature, sociability and endocrine function.

PMID: 18996447 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Basic science and neurobiological research: potential relevance to sexual compulsivity.

Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2008 Dec;31(4):623-42

Authors: Berlin FS

A unique challenge posed by advancing scientific knowledge about the biology of human behavior is how to integrate that understanding with the desire to hold ourselves--and one another--morally accountable. As human beings, we are something more than just passive agents whose behavior is the sum product of biologic determinism. Because of the existence of the mind, we are also active agents with the capacity to influence, at least to some extent, our own destinies. Behavior may be determined, but it is not predetermined. We are one of its determinants. Misconduct by a person of sound mind should not be attributed improperly to brain pathology. On the other hand, suffering, legitimate mental disorder, and associated impairments should not be trivialized. Historically, persons who once were labeled "lazy" are often more appropriately understood by modern standards as clinically depressed. Frequently they are more in need of pharmacologic treatments that alter brain chemistry than "a kick in the behind." Gluttony, one of the original cardinal sins, is often more properly understood as morbid obesity, a condition that deserves appropriate medical care. Persons who have alcoholism, once judged morally as "bums in the gutter," are more frequently referred to treatment facilities, such as The Betty Ford Clinic. One should not approach the issue of human sexual behavior without at least some appreciation of moral values and scientific research. Although clearly some persons choose to act in a sexually selfish and self-indulgent fashion with wanton disregard, others seem to be more genuinely burdened and struggle to integrate their sexual desires into an otherwise healthy and fully responsible lifestyle. When a person, whether male or female, seems to be so driven that it becomes difficult to master erotic desires and he or she experiences difficulty serving his or her own best longterm interests, the concept of sexual compulsivity seems to be relevant. Ultimately, a better understanding of any associated neuropathologies may help to facilitate future treatments and public acceptance. The possibility exists, at least in some instances, that a sexually compulsive individual is less an example of a bad person deserving of punishment than a "broken mind" in need of repair. In time, increased knowledge about the precise workings of the brain in reciprocally initiating and sustaining the sexual interests of the mind may facilitate a much clearer appreciation of the issues at hand.

PMID: 18996303 [PubMed - in process]

The correlation between early alcohol withdrawal severity and oxidative stress in patients with alcohol dependence.

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2008 Oct 27;

Authors: Huang MC, Chen CC, Peng FC, Tang SH, Chen CH

Oxidative stress is enhanced in alcoholic patients. This clinical study aimed to explore the correlation between alcohol withdrawal severity and two oxidative stress markers, malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Seventy-six inpatients fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria for alcohol dependence and 19 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum MDA level and SOD activity were measured within 24 h of alcohol detoxification. The severity of alcohol withdrawal was evaluated by the Chinese version of the revised Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol Scale (CIWA-Ar-C) every 8 h. Average and highest scores of the CIWA-Ar-C at the first day were recorded as the baseline withdrawal severity. We compared the differences of MDA and SOD between groups, and examined the correlation between baseline withdrawal severity and oxidative stress markers. Compared to controls, serum MDA levels were significantly elevated and SOD activity was significantly lowered in alcoholic patients. In stepwise multiple regression analysis, MDA was the only variable significantly correlated with the average (beta=0.48, p

Functional expression of brain neuronal CB2 cannabinoid receptors are involved in the effects of drugs of abuse and in depression.

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008 Oct;1139:434-49

Authors: Onaivi ES, Ishiguro H, Gong JP, Patel S, Meozzi PA, Myers L, Perchuk A, Mora Z, Tagliaferro PA, Gardner E, Brusco A, Akinshola BE, Liu QR, Chirwa SS, Hope B, Lujilde J, Inada T, Iwasaki S, Macharia D, Teasenfitz L, Arinami T, Uhl GR

Major depression and addiction are mental health problems associated with stressful events in life with high relapse and recurrence even after treatment. Many laboratories were not able to detect the presence of CB2 cannabinoid receptors (CB2-Rs) in healthy brains, but CB2-R expression has been demonstrated in rat microglial cells and other brain-associated cells during inflammation. Thus, neuronal expression of CB2-Rs has been ambiguous and controversial, and its role in depression and substance abuse is unknown. In this study we tested the hypothesis that genetic variants of the CB2 gene might be associated with depression in a human population and that alteration in CB2 gene expression may be involved in the effects of abused substances, including opiates, cocaine, and ethanol, in rodents. Here we demonstrate that a high incidence of Q63R but not H316Y polymorphism in the CB2 gene was found in Japanese depressed subjects. CB2-Rs and their gene transcripts are expressed in the brains of naïve mice and are modulated after exposure to stressors and administration of abused drugs. Mice that developed an alcohol preference had reduced CB2 gene expression, and chronic treatment with JWH015 a putative CB2-R agonist, enhanced alcohol consumption in stressed but not in control mice. The direct intracerebroventricular microinjection of CB2 antisense oligonucleotide into the mouse brain reduced mouse aversions in the plus-maze test, indicating the functional presence of CB2-Rs in the brain that modifies behavior. Using electron microscopy we report the subcellular localization of CB2-Rs that are mainly on postsynaptic elements in rodent brain. Our data demonstrate the functional expression of CB2-Rs in the brain that may provide novel targets for the effects of cannabinoids in depression and substance abuse disorders beyond neuroimmunocannabinoid activity.

PMID: 18991891 [PubMed - in process]

An endocannabinoid hypothesis of drug reward and drug addiction.

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008 Oct;1139:412-21

Authors: Onaivi ES

Pharmacologic treatment of drug and alcohol dependency has largely been disappointing, and new therapeutic targets and hypotheses are needed. There is accumulating evidence indicating a central role for the previously unknown but ubiquitous endocannabinoid physiological control system (EPCS) in the regulation of the rewarding effects of abused substances. Thus an endocannabinoid hypothesis of drug reward is postulated. Endocannabinoids mediate retrograde signaling in neuronal tissues and are involved in the regulation of synaptic transmission to suppress neurotransmitter release by the presynaptic cannabinoid receptors (CB-Rs). This powerful modulatory action on synaptic transmission has significant functional implications and interactions with the effects of abused substances. Our data, along with those from other investigators, provide strong new evidence for a role for EPCS modulation in the effects of drugs of abuse, and specifically for involvement of cannabinoid receptors in the neural basis of addiction. Cannabinoids and endocannabinoids appear to be involved in adding to the rewarding effects of addictive substances, including, nicotine, opiates, alcohol, cocaine, and BDZs. The results suggest that the EPCS may be an important natural regulatory mechanism for drug reward and a target for the treatment of addictive disorders.

PMID: 18991888 [PubMed - in process]

Crucial role of acetaldehyde in alcohol activation of the mesolimbic dopamine system.

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008 Oct;1139:307-17

Authors: Diana M, Peana AT, Sirca D, Lintas A, Melis M, Enrico P

Ethyl alcohol (EtOH), the main psychoactive ingredient of alcoholic drinks, is widely considered responsible for alcohol abuse and alcoholism through its positive motivational properties, which depend, at least partially, on the activation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. On the other hand, acetaldehyde (ACD), EtOH's first metabolite, has been classically considered aversive and useful in the pharmacologic therapy of alcoholics. Here we show that EtOH-derived ACD is necessary for EtOH-induced place preference, a preclinical test with high predictive validity for reward liability. We also found that ACD is essential for EtOH-increased microdialysate dopamine (DA) levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), and that this effect is mimicked by ACD administration to the intraventral tegmental area (VTA). Furthermore, in vitro, ACD enhances VTA DA neuronal firing. Coherently, EtOH-stimulating properties on DA neurons are prevented by pharmacologic blockade of local catalase: the main metabolic step for biotransformation of EtOH into ACD in the central nervous system. These results provide in vivo and in vitro evidence for a key role of ACD in EtOH motivational properties and its activation of the mesolimbic DA system. Additionally, these observations suggest that ACD, by increasing VTA DA neuronal activity, would oppose its well-known peripherally originating aversive properties. These findings could help in devising new effective pharmacologic therapies in alcoholism.

PMID: 18991876 [PubMed - in process]

A role for mGluR5 receptors in intravenous methamphetamine self-administration.

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008 Oct;1139:206-11

Authors: Osborne MP, Olive MF

Selective antagonists of the mGluR5 receptor attenuate rewarding and reinforcing effects of various drugs of abuse, including alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine. However, the ability of mGluR5 antagonists to alter the reinforcing effects of methamphetamine has not yet been explored. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to perform an operant lever-pressing task in order to obtain intravenous infusions of methamphetamine (0.2 mg/kg/infusion) or presentation of food pellets on a fixed ratio (FR1) schedule of reinforcement. After stabilization of methamphetamine or food self-administration, the selective mGluR5 antagonist 3-[(2-methyl-1,3-thiazol-4-yl) ethynyl]pyridine (MTEP; 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 mg/kg i.p.) or vehicle were administered to the animals in a randomized counterbalanced cross-over design. MTEP at doses of 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg significantly reduced methamphetamine self-administration by 26 and 36%, respectively, but did not alter food reinforcement at any dose tested. These data suggest that mGluR5 receptors are involved in the reinforcing effects of methamphetamine, and that antagonists of this receptor may serve as novel pharmacologic agents for the treatment of addiction to methamphetamine.

PMID: 18991866 [PubMed - in process]